Favorite Schools

Favorite Teams

Ex-Gov. David Paterson 'definitely looking' at running for Congress

paterson_congress.jpg

Former New York Gov. David Paterson may run for Congress, following the political comebacks of former governor Eliot Spitzer, and former congressman Anthony Weiner.
(Ozier Muhammad | The New York Times)

Former New York Governor David Paterson may run for Congress if longtime Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) decides to retire.

Paterson said he's "definitely looking" at running for the Harlem-based seat, and that he's keeping an eye on what the rest of the political field looks like, according to Huffington Post.

"I'm looking to see if someone will come forward to really speak for a changing and diverse community that is the congressional district. But I just find that the types of people I emulated when I was going around and served just aren't around anymore. Everyone is a deal maker. And that is what doesn't close off my interest."

USA Today reports speculation that Rep. Rangle will not run for another term. Now 83 years old, Rangle has been lagging in fundraising, generating only $231,000 through the end of June.

This announcement comes just two weeks after former Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced his intentions to run for New York City comptroller. Paterson was lieutenant governor under Spitzer, and became governor when Spitzer resigned in 2008 after involvement in a prostitution scandal.

Spitzer's campaign has been generating a lot of attention, and recent polls show him ahead of his competition, but he has been unable to avoid the scandal in interviews.

The comebacks don't stop there. Former Congressman Anthony Weiner announced his campaign for Mayor of New York City in the Spring. Weiner resigned from Congress in 2011 after admitting to having sexual conversations with at least six women via Twitter.

Weiner's campaign has also been gathering steam, but it hit a speed bump today when he admitted to sending a newly revealed set of lewd messages under the alias "Carlos Danger."

Paterson's announcement came as somewhat of a surprise. He had initially expressed disbelief when Spitzer announced his campaign, and joked about the prospect of his own return to politics in the wake of Spitzer's and Weiner's announcements.

"I think that if everybody's getting in, I want to get in as well," he said in an interview with WCBS 880′s Michael Wallace. "And so I'd like to break the news to you, Michael, that I'm going to run for president of Egypt."

Paterson is no stranger to controversy either. When he took office in 2008, he admitted that he and his wife had both had extramarital affairs.

He had also considered a run for governor in 2010, but called it off over allegations of interfering in a domestic violence case involving one of his aides.

What do you think of Paterson eyeing a congressional seat? Leave a comment below.